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An educational blog sponsored by Classic Controls focusing on education and training for the process control, instrumentation, and industrial valve community.
Industrial valve automation is a vital component of the broader industrial automation field, constantly redefined by technological advancements and digitization. This area is witnessing significant changes due to a combination of trends that include digital transformation, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), machine learning, artificial intelligence, advanced materials science, and regulatory changes in major industrial sectors like oil and gas, power generation, chemical, mining, and water treatment. Let's delve into the future direction of industrial valve automation.
Digital transformation and advanced technologies will primarily drive the future of industrial valve automation, making it smarter, more efficient, and more connected. However, it is also essential to consider the potential challenges these technologies may bring, such as increased complexity, the need for skilled personnel, and cybersecurity risks. As technology evolves, companies must adapt and implement strategies to leverage these advancements while managing these risks effectively.
In many industries, the atmosphere, though safe to breath, may be unsafe for an electrical spark. These areas often have pneumatically operated equipment for safety. And that equipment needs a source of clean dry air or as it is called in the industry, Instrument Grade Air. Plants typically have a centralized instrument grade air line that delivers air to the instruments that need it. However, oftentimes the instrument grade air is of inferior quality and contaminated with water. This air will benefit from a point of use drying system that guarantees instrument grade air. Traditional drying systems using PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) or refrigerant require expensive modifications to operate within hazardous areas. Air dryers made from hollow fiber membranes can dry compressed air without the use of electricity and are therefore safe for hazardous environments.